Sludge Watch ==> Virginia Department of Health says biosolids not dangerous

[Maureen Reilly]

Sludgewatch Admin:

People should ask to view the sludge tests-free under Freedom of Information 
... get copies of what parameters were tested and the results.
Was the testing adequate to demonstrate that the sludge is 'safe'?

.............................................................................


VDH says biosolids not dangerous

By John Barnhart
Wednesday, December 27, 2006 9:53 AM EST



According to Virginia Department of Health (VDH) officials, biosolids don't 
pose a health or environmental risk.

Biosolids is another name for stabilized sewage sludge. A number of 
companies haul the sludge from sewage treatment plants and spread it on farm 
fields. Land application of biosolids in Bedford County is done by Synagro, 
a Texas based company.

Bob Hicks is the director of VDH's Office of Environment of Health Services. 
Hicks said that all sewage treatment plants are required to test sludge 
destined for land application. Contractors that do land application often do 
testing, but the treatment plants are the primary testers. They are required 
to do this and submit the results in a monthly report to VDH.

VDH, itself, also conducts random tests of what the folks doing land 
application are spreading. Hicks said that, this year, they performed a 
concentrated testing effort on major appliers. Synagro is a major applier. 
This test was performed as the contractors brought loads to fields.

What is being spread in Bedford County is Class B biosolids. The Class B 
designation means that it has been treated to the point where 95 percent of 
human pathogens have been killed. Tests are performed to confirm this.


According to Scott Haley, a VDH biosolids specialist, they use fecal 
coliform as an indicator of proper treatment. These are bacteria that exist 
in everybody's intestines and help us digest food. If these bacteria are 
below a certain limit, it means that other types of bacteria have also been 
eliminated. Haley said that the maximum fecal coliform level allowable in 
Class B biosolids is is 2 million bacteria per dry gram.

"Typically we see levels that are much lower," Haley said.

This test is used because it is easy to perform and, according to Hicks, is 
very reliable. Hicks said that this is the same test that water treatment 
plants use on potable water.

Haley said that tests are also performed for trace elements. These are 
arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead, mercury, molybdenum, nickel, selenium and 
zinc. Some of these, such as copper, selenium and zinc are, in the proper 
concentration, vital nutrients. At excessive levels, they are toxic.

"We base our quality on federal [EPA] standards," said Haley.



Hicks said that Bedford County can adopt an ordinance that provides for 
testing of what is being spread on Bedford County fields. The county can 
have the same fecal coliform and trace element tests performed that VDH does 
and be reimbursed for the cost. To pay for this, VDH assesses a $2.50 per 
ton fee on biosolids. Tests can also be done on wells and ground water. 
According to Hicks, VDH encourages these tests and provides instructions for 
doing them.

"We don't have any evidence of people living nearby having health problems 
due to the land application of biosolids," Hicks said.

People in Bedford County who believe they have gotten sick because of 
biosolids being spread nearby may contact Dr. Katherine Nichols at (434) 
947-6777, according to Kelly Lobanov, VDH's communications director. Lobanov 
said that Dr. Nichols can confer with their physician, with their 
permission.

The actual application of biosolids is based on field and crop needs, 
according to Haley. Prior to spreading biosolids on a field, the soil should 
be tested. One concern is that a field does not have too much nitrogen 
applied to it. If the soil already has plenty of nitrogen, extra nitrates 
will end up in ground water.

Haley said that the company applying biosolids is required to test a field, 
prior to application. The amount applied will then be based on the soil and 
crop. Synagro must make reports of this to VDH and VDH verifies the crops 
and that the application rate is correct.

Hicks said that it's important to keep biosolids out of streams. The VDH 
bans biosolids application on steep slopes and requires buffers to prevent 
this. They also ban biosolids application in areas with a high water table, 
although that isn't an issue in Bedford County.

Before a permit to spread biosolids is issued, according to Hicks, each site 
is reviewed in the field by a VDH staff member.







http://www.bedfordbulletin.com/articles/2006/12/27/news/news03.txt